Media Release

The Hawai’i Police Department is warning the public that unsuspecting citizens may have bought stolen goods at garage sales at a home in the Orchidland Estates subdivision in Puna.

Vice Section officers served a search warrant Tuesday (April 28) on Auli’i Street in connection with a drug investigation. They arrested the occupant, 60-year-old Lloyd Chong, on suspicion of meth trafficking, three counts of promoting a dangerous drug, three counts of paraphernalia and one count of promoting a detrimental drug.

While there, officers observed numerous items believed to be stolen goods. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Section confirmed that some of the items were from reported thefts and burglaries. They obtained two additional search warrants and recovered approximately 150 stolen items with an estimated combined value of $150,000. Among the stolen items were numerous construction tools, personal belongings and computers.

While he was still in custody, police arrested Chong for second-degree theft. On Wednesday, he was released without charges on the drug and theft cases pending further investigation.

Police were able to contact many of the victims and return their property.

Investigation revealed that there had been numerous garage sales at Chong’s house. Police ask anyone who purchased items from garage sales on Auli’i Street in the recent past to call Lieutenant Mitchell Kanehailua at 961-2252.